Mothproofing material



Patented Feb. 25, 1930 N ED STATES-PATENT OFFICE. Y

MICHAEL G. MINAEFF, OF BROOKLY N, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE LARVEX COR- ;No Drawing.

' This invention relates to the mothproofing 'of materials or fabrics containinganimal' fibres, including those known as Wool, by treating them with thiourea, or certain of its derivatives, in which at least one of the amino groups contains no radical substituted for hydrogen. 7 I

It has been found that when the ordinary -woolen fabric of commerce isimmersed in a suitable solution of thiourea or phenylthiourea dissolved in acetone, water or other suitable solvents, it becomes immune from attack by moth larvae, such as normally attack and destroy woolen materials under similar conditions.

A two percent solution has beenfound entirely satisfactory, although a concentration of one percent, or even less, of thiourea, gives marked protection frommoth attack. It was found that long immersion was unnecessary, and that the fabric Was not affected in any degree, except for its immunity to its attack by moth larvae. In other words neither the feel nor the appearance of the fibres was sensibly altered.

In some cases it is advisable to include another substance or substances, especially such as will facilitate the wetting of the woolen material to be mothproofed. This may be advantageous whether the vmaterial is mothproofed by spraying or by immersion.

.EwampZe .A solution was prepared by dissolving two parts ofthiourea in a mixture of 88 parts of water and 12 parts of acetone.

moth larvae under conditions that normally resultin complete destruction of the fabric by the larvae. It was found that under these 3 conditions the fabric was practically undam- PORA'IION, OF NEW YQRK, N. 'Y.,

To this solution was added .3 parts of sulaconronarron on NEW YORK MoTHrnoorING MATERIAL Application filed November. 29, 1927. Serial 110.2%,584.

aged by the larvae. The same fabric, except that it received no treatment with thiourea, was subjected to the action of moth larvae under identical conditions, with the result that it was completely destroyed.

Identical fabric was also destroyed when it 1 was subjected to similar larvae test after treat- 1. The process of moth-proofing material which consists in treating it with a thiourea in solution in which at least one of the amino groups contains no radical substituted for hydrogen. 1

2. The process of moth-proofing animal fibres which consists in treating it withthiourea in solution in such proportion that the fibres are substantially unaltered in appearance. I,

3. The process of moth-proofing material which consists in'treating it with a solution carrying a thiourea in which at least one of the amino, groups contams no radical substituted for hydrogen, the solution also con-.

taining a substance which facilitates wetting of the material by the solution.

4. The process of moth-proofing material which consists in treating it with an aqueous solution carrying a thiourea in which at least one of the amino groups contains noradical substituted for hydrogen, the solution also I carrying sulphonated material. v

5. A moth-proofing solution consisting of water carrying a thiourea in which at least one of the amino groups contains no radical substituted for hydrogen, and also carrying a substance which facilitates the Wetting of the material by the solution.

6. A moth-proofing solution consisting of water carrying thiourea, and also carrying a substance which facilitates the wetting of the material by the solution.

7. An article largely consisting of animal fibres impregnated with a. thiourea in which at least one of the amino groups contains no substitute for hydrogen and in such an amount that neither the feel nor the appearance of the fibres indicates that they have been so impregnated;

Signed at 250 Park Ave, in the county of New York and State of New York this 25th day of November, A. D. 1927.-

MICHAEL G. MINAEFF. 

